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Your next writing asssignment will be an extension of what you are learning in science class regarding the six simple machines. The picture above will help to remind you of the six simple machines. If you scroll to the bottom of the page I also have listed several websites that will review the six simple machines. Please remember to post your Simple Machine Story on your group page. Read your mission below. This story will be due before Friday March 5th.


Your Mission Lies Ahead...
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You are living in Medieval times and the King of your country has asked you to build a castle. The King has given you all of the materials needed to build this castle including wood, stones, hammers, etc. You also can hire as many people as you need to help with the project, but just remember, there was no electricty, gas powered machines or computers in medieval times!! You must THINK like a person living in the times of Robin Hood! How would you bring the stones to the higher levels of your castle? How would you make the castle secure? How would the workers bring the furniture into the castle? How would you dig the foundation? What tools will you use and how will you use them?

So to review what you need to do for this assignment:
~Write a creative story describing how you are going to build the castle for your King keeping in mind what was available for materials at that time.
~You MUST use AT LEAST four of the six simple machines to help build your castle. In addition, you must EXPLAIN how you are using the simple machines.
~Have FUN! Be creative and use your critical thinking skills--- all that you have learned about simple machines-- to write this story.
~Navigate to your group page and post your Simple Machine Story.

The links below will bring you to websites and wiki pages that will help you review and practice identifying simple machines.

1. Edheads: Simple Machines At this site practice identifying simple machines that can be found in four different rooms of a house. Once that is completed, move on to the shed to figure out what kinds of simple machines work together in compound machines.
2. Center of Science and Industry- This is a great site for review.
3. Beacon Learning Center: How Can We Move Our Principal? This Educational site invites users to learn about the six types of simple machines by engaging them in a problem based situation. In this situation, students have to decide how to move their principal who has just hurt his foot.
4. Harcourt Publishers: Simple Machines Engaging site encourages users to use their knowledge of simple machines to master this game. Be sure to read the instructions before you begin!
5. Oh No Lego Wedgies! This site provides a great definition of a wedge and pictures of wedges built with Lego's.
6. Simple Machine Resource Chart This site provides a chart that lists the six simple machines, defines them, explains how it helps and gives examples.
7. Spotlighting Simple Machines Simple machines such as inclined planes, wedges and screws are explained.
8. Scholsatic-Investigate and Report on Simple Machines- This website will bring students on a journey to learn about the six simple machines and then challenges students to demonstrate their knowledge.

9. Simple Machine Videos- This link will navigate you to a page with three videos from Bill Nye, the Science Guy, where he explores and explains the science behind simple machines. There also is a link to another simple machines video on the How Stuff Works website, complete with a quiz!
10. Simple Machines Poster- Click on the link to view a poster describing the six simple machines.

*The Ludlow Public School District is not responsible for any information that may be accessed once the user has left this wiki, including external web page content as well as material accessed via links from external web pages.